Baseball Glove with Illuminated Target Area

ABSTRACT

An illuminating sports glove is disclosed that includes a baseball or softball glove and at least one integrated illumination system. Each illumination system includes at least one power source, at least one lamp means, and at least one switch. Preferably, the baseball glove is a catcher&#39;s mitt with covered LEDs integrated into the outer rim of the catching side of the catcher&#39;s mitt. When the switch is in a closed position, the catcher&#39;s mitt presents an illuminated target pattern. The illuminated glove provides a target at which a thrower of an object can aim.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to baseball or softball gloves, and moreparticularly to such gloves having illuminated targets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Baseball gloves are well known in the art. Various forms of baseballgloves have developed after becoming accepted in the late 1800's.Overtime, baseball gloves have evolved into various shapes and sizes fordifferent purposes and preferences.

One example of this specialization is the development of catcher'smitts. In baseball, the catcher is responsible for catching ballspitched from the pitcher. As a professional pitcher can throw a ball inexcess of 90 miles-per-hour, a catcher mitt has more padding then othertypes of baseball gloves. In addition, a catcher's mitt provides atarget at which a pitcher aims. Typically, catcher's mitts are round inshape, providing a distinct target for the pitcher.

Baseball is a popular sport in America, and played under a variety ofconditions. As baseball is typically played outside, the lightingconditions will vary greatly throughout the day and can be affected bycloudy weather. Therefore, a need exists for a baseball glove that canbe illuminated to provide an easily seen target for the thrower of aball. Preferably, the illuminated glove will indicate the center orpocket of the glove to improve the opportunity for accuracy of thethrow.

The prior art includes a baseball glove that lights up after beingimpacted by a baseball, (Rawlings LS85R Lightning Series 8.5″ YouthLight Up Baseball Glove). However, this glove does not teach using anilluminated glove to provide a target before a ball is thrown. Also,this glove teaches using a light in the web portion of a baseball glove,but does not teach how to provide an illumination means in the edges ofa catcher's mitt. Therefore a need exists for a baseball glove thatprovides an illuminated target, especially for a catcher's mitt, as theaccuracy of a pitch is an important part of baseball and affects whetherthe pitch is called a strike or a ball.

Therefore, there is a need for a baseball glove that provides anilluminated target pattern presenting a readily seen target. The presentinvention accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present device is an illuminating sports glove, such as a baseballor softball glove. The illuminating glove includes a glove and at leastone illumination system integrated into the glove. Each illuminationsystem includes at least one power source, at least one lamp means, andat least one switch electrically disposed between the at least one powersource and the at least one lamp means. When the at least one switch isin a closed position, the at least one power source powers the at leastone lamp means.

In a preferred embodiment, the glove is a catcher's mitt with the atleast one lamp means integrated into the outer rim of the catching sideof the catcher's mitt. When the at least one switch is in a closedposition, the catcher's mitt presents an illuminated target pattern. Theilluminated target pattern provides a target at which a thrower of anobject can aim. A more visible target increases the opportunity for anaccurate throwing of an object.

The at least one lamp means is covered by a non-opaque protectivematerial integrated into the outer rim of the catching side of thecatcher's mitt. The protective material protects the at least one lampmeans from the impact of baseballs or softballs and protects from theharsh playing conditions of baseball or softball. A preferred embodimentof the at least one lamp means includes a plurality of LEDs integratedinto the outer rim of the catching side of the catcher's mitt.

The present invention is an illuminated glove that produces anilluminated target pattern presenting a readily seen target. Otherfeatures and advantages of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, theprinciples of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the invention, illustrating aglove and an illumination system;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the invention, illustrating anembodiment of the at least one lamp means using LED lights;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the invention, illustrating anembodiment of the at least one lamp means using tube-like light strips;and

FIG. 4 is a right-side perspective view of the invention, illustratingan integrated power source.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With respect to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an illuminating sportsglove 10, such as a baseball or softball glove 10. The illuminatingsports glove 10 includes a baseball glove 20 and at least oneillumination system 30 integrated into the baseball glove 20. The gloveis preferably a traditional leather glove, but a leather-like materialmay be used, if desired. Each illumination system 30 includes at leastone power source 32, at least one lamp means 34, and at least one switch36 electrically disposed between the at least one power source 32 andthe at least one lamp means 34. When the at least one switch 36 is in aclosed position, the at least one power source 32 powers the at leastone lamp means 34.

In one embodiment, the at least one switch 36 is electrically disposedbetween the at least one power source 32 and the at least one lamp means34 via a conductor means 38 (FIG. 1) that forms a complete circuit withthe at least one power source 32 when the at least one switch 36 isclosed. A preferred embodiment of the at least one power source 32 usestwo AA batteries. The switch 36 is preferably a simple mechanical switchthat completes the circuit when manually moved to a closed position.

In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 & 4, the at leastone power source 32 and the at least one switch 36 are containedtogether in a power unit 39. Preferably, the power unit 39 is integratedinto the invention via a pocket 46 fixed to a non-catching side 43 ofthe baseball glove 20, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Preferably, the powerunit 39 is removably fixed into the pocket 46 via a cover flap 48 (FIG.4). The cover flap 48 is preferably fastened using a hook-and-loop typefastener 49 (FIG. 4), though other fastening means can be used, such asa button type fastener (not shown), if desired. With the power unit 39removably integrated into the invention, the at least one power source32 can be replaced from time to time as needed.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the baseball glove 20 is acatcher's mitt 40 having a catching side 42 with an outer rim 44. In apreferred embodiment, the at least one lamp means 34 is integrated intothe outer rim 44 of the catching side 42 of the catcher's mitt 40. Whenthe at least one switch 36 is in a closed position, the catcher's mitt40 presents an illuminated target pattern 50 (FIGS. 2 & 3). Theilluminated target pattern 50 provides a target at which a thrower of anobject can aim. Also, the illuminated target pattern 50 provides a morevisible target than a baseball glove 20 would provide by itself. A morevisible target increases the opportunity for an accurate throwing of anobject. Also, an illuminated target pattern 50 provides a pleasurablevisual experience for a person throwing an object at the illuminatedtarget pattern 50 and for a person holding the invention.

In another preferred embodiment, the at least one lamp means 34 iscovered by a non-opaque protective material 80 (FIG. 2) integrated intothe outer rim 44 of the catching side 42 of the catcher's mitt 40.Preferably, the protective material 80 is made of a durable rubbermaterial, but can be made of any suitable durable material, such as adurable plastic material, if desired. The protective material 80protects the at least one lamp means 34 from the impact of a highvelocity hard object, such as a baseball. The protective material 80also provides protection from the harsh conditions of baseball, such asdirt, moisture, and temperature extremes. In a preferred embodiment, theprotective material 80 and the at least one lamp means 34 have a lowprofile on the catching side 42 of the catcher's mitt 40 to avoidinterfering with the effectiveness of the catcher's mitt 40.

A preferred embodiment of the at least one lamp means 34 includes aplurality of LEDs 60 (FIG. 2) integrated into the outer rim 44 of thecatching side 42 of the catcher's mitt 40. Preferably commerciallyavailable LEDs are used to minimize production costs. Such LEDspreferably provide a bright light with a low consumption of power. Analternate embodiment of the at least one lamp means 34 includes at leastone tube-like light strip 70 (FIG. 3) integrated into the outer rim 44of the catching side 42 of the catcher's mitt 40.

While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it will be apparent that various modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Forexample, the protective cover 80 can be made from different colormaterial for targeting or decorative purposes. Also, the at least onepower source 32 can be internally integrated into the baseball glove 20to avoid using an external pocket 46. Accordingly, it is not intendedthat the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.

1. An illuminating sporting glove comprising: a sporting glove; at leastone illumination system integrated into the sporting glove, eachillumination system including at least one power source, at least onelamp means, and at least one switch electrically disposed between the atleast one power source and the at least one lamp means; whereby when theat least one switch is in a closed position, the at least one powersource powers the at least one lamp means.
 2. The device of claim 1wherein the sporting glove is a catcher's mitt having a catching sidewith an outer rim.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein the at least onelamp means is integrated into the outer rim of the catching side of thecatcher's mitt, whereby when the at least one switch is in a closedposition, the catcher's mitt presents an illuminated target pattern. 4.The device of claim 3 wherein the at least one lamp means is covered bya non-opaque protective material integrated into the outer rim of thecatching side of the catcher's mitt.
 5. The device of claim 4 whereinthe at least one lamp means includes a plurality of LEDs integrated intothe outer rim of the catching side of the catcher's mitt.
 6. The deviceof claim 4 wherein the at least one lamp means includes at least onetube-like light strip integrated into the outer rim of the catching sideof the catcher's mitt.